The National tribune., 1887-02-03
DEPT ENGAGEMENTS.
MAINE.

MAINE.
The goth annual Encampment of the De-
partment of Maine convened at Columbian
Hall, Bath, on the 25th inst About 400 dele
gates representing every Post in the State,
were present The Encampment was called 10
order by Department Commander Lowe, who
delivered the address, after which reports of
Department officers were submitted. Hon.
Hannibal HamlIn was in attendance.
In his annual report Asst Adit-Gen. Lo-
reno Il. Hill gives the following statistics:
On the LIST day of February, 1856, there we're
in good standing in the Department li6 Posts.
The following have been organized during the
year: Demerritt, No. III, Peru; w. X. KIM
ball, lis, South Paris; Knovlen, 1i9, Masardis;
Theodore Lincoln. $50, Dennysville; Samuel
Libby, l33, Limerick; George Whitman, 90,
New Gloucester; Freeman McGilvery, 80,
Searsport (reorganized) Six new Posts have
been organized during the year, and two have
been disbanded, making the total number at
present 80. The number of members in good
standing IN the Department Feb. !, 1856, was
9,l46; number Of members Jan. /, 1887, 5000
Loss during the year, II6 This loss resulted
from rule which was abrogated at the last
National Encampment in regard to dues. Add
to the number in good standing the number
suspended who will be reinstatcd, and the
actual strength OF the Department will be
nearly 10000. A careful estimate of the num-
Der OF eN-SOlUlcrS OF THIS state not members oil
the Order is about 1900.
So far as reported to the Assistant Adjutant-
General, there has been expended by the Posts
in charity during the year Si,25S.29. This is
not complete, As many Posts make individual
donations, which are not recorded.
There have been issued during the year 10
General Orders, three Circular Letters and 1872
Special Orders. The Council Of Administration
has met three times-at SkOhegan, Auburn and
l. 4. II
any Of the Posts. Harmony has prevailed.
COMMANDMENTS Chief FaiTchild was present
on the second day. He was enthusiastically re-
ceived and made an admirable address. Gen.
James A. Hall presented resolutions, which
were adopted, calling upon the Congressman Of
Maine TO use their influence to secure a PEN
sion of So month for widows of every hon
orably-discharged soldier. Various committee
reports were presented and favorably acted
upon. Salaries were voted for various officers,
including $50 for Chaplain. Hon. Hannibal
Hamlin presented resolutions on the death Of
Gen. Logan, which was unanimously adopted.
In the afternoon a business meeting was held
and the election of officers proceeded with,
which resulted rs follows: Department Com
mander, Richard X. Gately; s. v. C., Samuel
l.. Miller of WaldObOro: J. " C., VI. $. Smith
OF Ellsworth; Chap, Rev. @. II. Shinn, Of
Deering; NJ. d., III. G. Levencaler, of Thomas
ton; Council of Administration. J. w. Black,
G. w. HadlOck, G.. A. Wilson. G. +. Wing VIM.
Cushing; Delegates 10 National Encampment,
at large, Hannibal Hamlin, OF Bangor John
ID. Anderson, Of Gray; also 10 Representatives
and 10 Alternates to the National Encampment.
The officers, with the exception of Commander
Gately, were installed by Commander in Chief
Fairchild. The next Department Encampment
will be held at Portland.
Campfire was held in the evening under
the auspices Of Sedgwick Post, which was at
tended by over COO veterans Commander-in-
Chief Fairchild, Hannibal Hamlin, Gov. Bod
well, Gen. COnnor and Gen. Hyde were among
those present, and their arrival at the hall was
greeted with cheer upon cheer. After singing
by children Of the Orphan Home, Mayor
Wakefield extended the Inequalities of the
city. Gen. Il. W. Hyde was POSTMASTER. The
toasts were: THE United States" Hon.
Hannibal Hamlin; The Grand Army Of the
Republic" Commander-in-C Chief Lucius Fair
child; 1.-The State of Maine" Gov. Bodwel
The wards of the State" Hon. J. c. Richard
son; "To our comrades" Rev. Q. III. Shinn
"Our comrades dead" Gen. Selden COnnOr.
"The Department Of Maine, Grand Army of
the Republic" Past Commander s. w. Lane;
"Grand Army Law" Col. Taintor, Judge Adj
vocate on Gen. Fairchild's staff; "Old Glory"
COmrade Carver, of the 4th Maine; 1.-THE
army" Gen. j. A. Hall; THE navy" Albert
4. NickersOn, Inspector General of the Depart
ment Of Maine. At IL o'clock the Campfire
came TO an end with three rousing cheers.
MASSACHUSETTS.
The goth annual Encampment, Department
of Massachusetts,, was held at Boston on the
2oth and 29th OF January. The Encampment
was opened i'm due form, Rev. T. A. Horton in
the absence OF Department Chaplain Perry,
officiating as Chaplain. ASST Adi't-Gen. A. e.
Munroc called the roll OF the officers, and then
Commander Tobin delivered the annual ad-
dress.
The annual reports OF the various officers of
the Department were presented in print and
distributed TO the members of the Encamp-
ment.
Comrade A. c. Munroe, Assistant Adiutant-
General, showed in his report the following
facts: Number of Posts Dee. 81, 1885, IS2 |;
numberOf comrades same date Il ,965; number
Of Posts Dec. 81. 1856, 1S5 number of comrades
reported same date, 19,i97; net gain during the
year, ,532. The net gain by quarters is shown
by the quarterly reports to be as follows, viz:
First quarter, ending March 81, 227; second
quarter, ending June so, SIS; third quarter
ending Sept 80, 300; fourth quarter, ending
Dec. 81, 100. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of
comrades in good standing Dec. 81, 1885,
1906; number of comrades gained by muster,
1900; number Of comrades gained by transfer,
$50; number Of comrades gained by reinstate-
ment, 1,722; total number gained, 4,01l; ag-
EItEalts -isJlOs oi toilFaOeS lO5L DY
death, 2i6; number of comrades lost by hon
orable discharge, so; number of comrades lost
by transfer, 4l3; number of comrades lost by
suspension, l,765; number Of comrades lost by
cishonorable discharge, ., total loss, 2,479;
excess OF gains over losses, 1852. There has
been expended for relief during the year,
$3S,6l5.i6, and Of the 1s5 Posts comprising this
Department, 1873 have gained in membership;
IL have the same number as one year ago and
40 have lost in number. Number of reflections
during the year, So. Two hundred and forty
six comrades have died during the year-an
excess over last year of q.
Comrade John IL 0'Donnell, Assistant Quar-
termaster-General, reports that the receipts of
the Department for the year have been, includ.
ing cash in hand, $9,66665; expenses, includ-
ing $500 paid to Veterans Rights Union,
S5,937.79 leaving a balance of So 72S.S6.
Department Inspector Ii. Read Wales, in his
report, showed that the condition of the De-
partment was better in all respects than it was
year ago; that the system Of inspection was
| capable Of Improvement, that the amount ex-
pended for relief during the year was $37 2S9 90,
an excess over last year OF s5l9.52. amount in
the relief funds Of Posts, 1855, $ll3,3SI 81; in
1855, $l4062O.55; in Post funds, lSS5, 81, $780,